Denon AVR-A10H 13.4 Ch 150W 8K AV Receiver Tech Overview

The Denon A-Series products are the very best that the brand has to offer. In early 2023, we were introduced to Denon’s flagship AVR-A1H, which is a 70-pound beast capable of powering a 15.4-channel home theater and hitting 70% of its rated power (105 watts) with 9CH driven! Priced at $6,500, the A1H is not for the faint of wallet, but it’s an impressive piece of gear harkening back to the heyday of the super AV receiver, like the colossal AVR-5805 from nearly two decades ago. Now Denon is introducing another A-Series AVR, the AVR-A10H ($4,699). This new 13.4-channel model takes inspiration from the flagship A1H, sacrificing nothing in terms of performance, and very little in terms of features. If you can get by with two fewer audio channels, the AVR-A10H might satisfy your desire for a flagship Denon while saving you a significant chunk of change.

The AVR-A10H appears to replace the AVR-X8500H in Denon’s lineup of high-end receivers. For $100 more than its predecessor, the AVR-A10H packs an impressive collection of features and capabilities not found on the older AVR-X8500H, including four independent subwoofer outputs (up from two) and Dirac Live as an optional extra. Essentially, the AVR-A10H offers the power and channel count of the X8500H combined with the feature-set of newer models (like the 11.4-channel AVR-X6800H, introduced last year at $3,500). So the AVR-A10H bridges a gap in Denon’s receiver lineup, while providing a more accessible alternative to the A1H for users who want flagship performance, but don’t need 15 channels of built-in amplification. For most of us, 13 amplified channels and 4 subwoofer pre-outs will get the job done. The 13.4-channel A10H can support 7.4.6 and 9.4.4 channel configurations, covering the bases for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X (including DTS:X Pro), Auro 3D, IMAX Enhanced, and Sony 360 Reality Audio immersive surround sound formats — all of which are supported by the A10H.

Denon AVR-A10H: Truth in Power

Top View of Denon AVR-A10H - uses similar sized power transformer & capacitor bank from the X8500H

Like the flagship AVR-A1H, the new AVR-A10H is rated at 150 watts per channel (with two channels driven). The AVR-A10H’s 13-channel monolithic amplifier sees each channel built on its own PCB to minimize crosstalk and distortion. That’s what we’d expect in a high-end amplifier design, but not something you can take for granted in an AVR with a high channel count. Thanks to Denon’s 70% power guarantee, users might expect to see 105 watts per channel of real-world power with 5 channels driven. But in recent years, flagship Denon products have proven themselves to be overachievers, easily hitting 70% of rated power with seven channels driven, rather than just five. For the A1H, Denon’s engineers were able to maintain 70% of rated power with up to 9 channels driven thanks to the massive power reserves and lots of heatsink area! That’s pretty badass, and we’re eager to see whether the new AVR-A10H has sufficient power-supply chutzpah to come close to matching such an impressive achievement.

Editorial Note About Power Consumption of the Denon AVR-A10H by Gene DellaSala

An astute observer will note the back panel power consumption of the Denon AVR-A10H to be only 900 watts. As we've discussed in the article Receiver Power Consumption Ratings, this is NOT a MAX rating unless it specifically says so on the back panel. Like other Denon AVRs, this power figure is based on an actual measurement regulated by the IEC standard. In this case, Denon uses 6-ohm loads when ALL 13 channels are driven simultaneously. Each amplifier is driven to 12.5 watts/6ohms = 162.5 watts / 0.20 (efficiency) = 812.5 watts. Add in the HDMI/DSP/DAC power and you get to their 900 watt rating.

As a member of the revered A-Series, the AVR-A10H boasts high-grade components, including a new ESS DAC array comprising nine “audiophile-grade” 2-channel DAC chips to maximize resolution for all 13.4 channels. Denon does not specify which ESS chips are used, but the AVR-A10H supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, so users of Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, and other high-res audio sources can stream to their hearts’ content without sacrificing audio quality. While the A10H’s 13 channels of amplification are rated at the same 150 watts as its predecessor (AVR-X8500H), the new receiver benefits from an upgraded OFC (oxygen-free copper) wound transformer engineered to provide exceptional sound quality, resulting in what Denon describes as “a significant performance upgrade.” The A10H also features premium gold-plated speaker terminals and a rigid, three-layer chassis designed to protect against vibration and interference, “significantly reducing noise,” according to the company.

Like other flagship products from Denon (and Marantz), the A10H is manufactured at the renowned Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan, ensuring that “each receiver meets the most exacting standards.” The Shirakawa facility is famous for its precision and high quality-control, thanks to highly-trained technicians and equipment capable of maintaining tight tolerances, with a focus on superior craftsmanship. I don’t want to suggest that Denon’s more affordable products, manufactured in Vietnam or China, are inherently inferior because of their country of origin. Products coming from Shirakawa Audio Works simply provide a certain pride of ownership that many customers value, and these products often enjoy more robust construction and more premium components, commensurate with their higher prices. Again, like other flagship Denon products, the A10H was carefully tuned by Denon Sound Master, Shinichi Yamauchi, ensuring that Denon’s signature “vivid and spacious” sound signature comes through. 

The AVR-A10H features Audyssey XT32 room calibration, but I suspect that some users buying an AVR in this price range will spring for the optional Dirac Live Room Correction for precise tuning, plus Dirac Live Bass Control to optimize up to four subwoofers. The bad news is that you’ll have to pay a pretty penny for Dirac licenses (plus you’ll need a calibrated measurement microphone, like the $79 UMIK-1 from Mini DSP). The good news is that Dirac recently changed its pricing for Bass Control, so you no longer have to pay extra for a “multi-sub” option if you use more than one subwoofer. There’s now just one version of Bass Control, covering one sub or multiple subs. The bundle including the full bandwidth version of Dirac Live Room Correction plus Bass Control now costs $599. Before this change, it would have set you back $799. Dirac is still not cheap, but it does provide optimal bass distribution and integration that would be hard to achieve without it.

Note: Audyssey enthusiasts should check out Gene's Audyssey XT PC calibration results on the Marantz AV10.

The AVR-A10H is equipped with a fairly comprehensive set of inputs and outputs, including seven HDMI inputs, all of which support HDMI 2.1 features like 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HDCP 2.3. Two of the three HDMI outputs are capable of 8K/60Hz, while the third is limited to 4K/60Hz, and is likely to be used in a second zone (if at all). Gamers should feel confident that the AVR-A10H is compatible with the latest video formats and gaming consoles, and of course there is support for HDMI ARC/eARC for simplified audio return and control. The AVR-A10H also includes two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, six analog line inputs, and three legacy video inputs (two composite and one component), ensuring that Nintendo Wii users and LaserDisc aficionados aren’t left out in the cold. A dedicated moving magnet (MM) phono input is also provided for vinyl fans. There is one notable omission: the AVR-A10H does not feature a 7.1-channel analog input, which was available on the outgoing AVR-X8500H. That won’t be a big deal for most users, but it’s worth pointing out.

Like all recent Denon AVRs above the entry level, the AVR-A10H features HEOS, the company’s streaming multi-room audio solution. HEOS promises seamless integration with other HEOS-enabled devices throughout the home, providing synchronized access to popular streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, and SoundCloud. Plus, you can listen to tracks directly from your phone, tablet, or USB drive on up to 32 zones while maintaining full audio fidelity and lag-free listening. You can control it all with the HEOS app, available for iOS and Android.

Denon AVR-A1H vs AVR-A10H Receiver Comparison

There’s not much that the AVR-A10H can’t do, but it doesn’t offer the balanced (XLR) connectivity available on the costlier A1H. The A1H has four assignable XLR outputs, which by default are used for the four subwoofer outs. It also has one stereo XLR input. The AVR-A10H only has unbalanced RCA connectivity for analog inputs and outputs, including for the subwoofers. And as I mentioned earlier, the A10H lacks the 7.1-channel analog audio inputs found on its predecessor, the AVR-X8500H. The biggest difference between the A10H and A1H is, of course, the channel count. The A1H has 15 channels of amplification, compared to 13 on the A10H. The AVR-A1H also weighs an additional 18 lbs compared to the AVR-A10H, partly due to its much larger power supply, which allows it to deliver more than its rated power with 2 channels driven and sustain multi-channel power with more than 7 channels driven better than the AVR-A10H.

What about processing? The published specs for the A10H indicate that the receiver has “15.4-channel” preamp outputs, leading other publications to incorrectly assume that the new receiver is capable of 15.4-channel processing. Can’t you just add a stereo power amp to the A10H and run a 15.4-channel home theater? Alas, it is NOT so. The A10H is limited to 13.4 channels of processing. It does have 15.4 preamp outputs, but they can’t all be used simultaneously. Whether you’re using the internal amps, separate power amps, or a combination of the two, 13.4 channels is the max. If you can live with that limitation, the AVR-A10H appears to be every bit the flagship that its A-Series name would suggest.

The A10H comes with a 3-year warranty and will be available for purchase starting on October 1st, 2024, from authorized Denon retailers, like our friends at Audio Advice. 

More information: Denon AVR-A10H

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.